Dominance of ŠAVŠ Students in the L&K Award: Nearly Half of Finalists from Our University

Škoda Auto has recognised the best final theses in the prestigious Laurin & Klement Award competition. Among the nine finalists selected by an expert jury from dozens of submitted projects, students from ŠAVŠ made a significant mark. Four of our representatives made it to the shortlist. This confirms that ŠAVŠ students address topics in their work that have a direct practical benefit for the car manufacturer.

The award ceremony took place on 9 December at the Service and Training Centre in Kosmonosy. Adam Kleprlík from CTU (Czech Technical University) became this year's winner with his thesis on "Design of a system for thermal stabilisation of parts in dimensional quality inspection". The first place also comes with a financial reward of CZK 80,000.

However, for Škoda Auto University, this year's edition was primarily proof of the exceptional quality and readiness of its students. The fact that four out of nine finalist theses originated at ŠAVŠ demonstrates the strength of the connection between the academic sphere and practice. ŠAVŠ students managed to succeed in strong competition from technical universities with topics spanning the entire company – from logistics and purchasing to sales and HR.

The expert jury appreciated their innovative approach and, in particular, the real-world applicability of the proposed solutions in the carmaker's processes. Each finalist received a reward of CZK 30,000 for their success. Nevertheless, participation in the competition is not just about the financial reward, but also about the courage to present one's ideas to top management and industry experts.

Graduate Ing. David Hančar focused his diploma thesis on "Original Škoda Auto Accessories in Used Car Sales". Ing. Tereza Machačová addressed "Sustainable Approach to Packaging and Packaging Management in Automotive Industry Distribution Logistics". The topic "Use of Personnel Marketing at Selected Management Levels in Škoda Auto a.s." was the subject of the diploma thesis by Ing. Lucie Vajs Císařová. Follow-up Master's student Bc. Andrea Štorkupováchose the topic "Impact of Sustainability on the Purchasing Process of Škoda Auto a.s." for her Bachelor's thesis, with which she entered the competition.

The last mentioned, Andrea Štorkupová, adds regarding her participation: “I signed up for the L&K competition primarily because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and present my Bachelor's thesis. I saw it as an opportunity to get feedback that could move me forward,” describes one of the finalists, adding: “I perceive being among the finalists as a great honour and I value the opportunity to present my results.”

The Laurin & Klement Award aims to motivate students to solve real challenges associated with the company's operations. The success of four ŠAVŠ representatives in this year's edition confirms that our students are not only a source of new talent for Škoda Auto but are already, during their studies, valuable colleagues who bring solutions with high added value.

Congratulations to all finalists for their excellent representation of the school!

Media Contact:

Renata Holubová; +420 730 803 114; e-mail: renata.holubova@savs.cz